National Entrepreneurship Week (NatlEshipWeek) is a non-partisan, congressionally-charted initiative founded in 2006 that takes place the third week of February annually. Relaunched in 2017 to expand its breadth and reach, the annual initiative now offers a rich network of partners that engage, educate, and build equitable access to America's Entrepreneurship Ecosystem. From Maui to Miami to Maine, this network activates annually to provide resources, programming, and partnership to entrepreneurial educators, ecosystem builders, and most importantly - entrepreneurs.
As the future of work continues to evolve, The National Consortium for Entrepreneurship Education (EntreEd) instills entrepreneurial mindsets in every student, every year to forge a more entrepreneurial America.
Since 2012, Maui Business Brainstormers (MBB) has been filling an unmet need, only possible through the personal sacrifices of its volunteering organizers, supporting members and the generous sponsorship of already successful businesses. MBB does not charge for the events because it is focused on would-be entrepreneurs who often have little resources. These are the seeds, and seeds must be watered and nurtured. Those seeds that struggle and survive will become healthy plants, able to give back by providing employment, wealth generation and tax revenue. Once a business achieves success, it can afford to pay for expensive training and needs no outside help.
Maui County Business Resource Center (MCBRC) is an extension project of the Mayor’s Office of Economic Development (OED). The MCBRC serves as an entrepreneurial resource for new or existing business owners who need business assistance for operations within Maui County. The Center was established to improve public access to government resources and increase the reach of non-profit partners that provide business assistance and consultation.
RJK LLC mission is to increase the personal income of business owners, allowing them to do what they enjoy through the optimization of profits. Profits are optimized by maximizing revenues, minimizing expenses through better organization of clients’ financial systems, identifying lost opportunity costs and by providing accurate and timely financial information. Richard Kehoe, the owner, is an independent CFO with more than 20 years of small business experience in all stages of developing business from setting up, managing and exiting from a business.
MEO Business Development Center (MEO BDC) provides micro-enterprise loans, business planning classes, and consultation services. Established in 1997, we have helped create more than 700 new business and 900 jobs and train 2,000 entrepreneurs. MEO BDC offers loans, ranging from $5,000 to $25,000, for startup operations or expansion of existing small business. We have emergency loans available for special situations. MEO BDC has facilitated 700 loans worth more than $4 million. The Core Four course enables development of a realistic, achievable business plan. The six-week, 36-hour course is offered 10 times a year on Maui, Molokai, and Lanai. MEO BDC programs are funded by grants from the Maui County Mayor’s Office of Economic Development and Agape Foundation.
HawaiiUSA Federal Credit Union is a not-for-profit federally insured financial cooperative owned and operated by its members. Chartered in 1936, it provides exclusive benefits and services for qualified employees and retirees of qualifying groups and companies, along with their associated family members or domestic partners. Its mission is to improve its members' lives through its "Life matters" commitment. Its Board of Directors and staff pledge to achieve this goal through a total commitment to service excellence. It will maintain financial strength and stability to support growth and to provide diverse services to its members.
Nationally, the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) administers farm commodity, crop insurance, farm credit, and conservation programs for farmers through a network of state and county offices. FSA programs are primarily directed at agricultural producers or, in the case of loans, at those with farming experience. Covering a geographic area the size of the Continental U.S., FSA Hawai'i and the Pacific Basin supports a wealth of diverse farms and ranches in terms of size of operations, crops, type of production systems, and markets. Perhaps, more importantly, it is the diversity of the people engaged in agricultural systems that makes this region unique. The cultures, customs, languages and even the business systems are distinctive from place to place whether it is each island within the State of Hawaii or the islands encompassing the territories of American Samoa, Guam and the Common Wealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. The relationship with farmers goes back to the 1930's and the first agriculture acts establishing farm programs. Under the unique method of local administration that Congress set up at that time, farmers who are eligible to participate in Federal farm programs elect a three to five person county committee. This committee reviews county office operations and makes decisions on how the programs apply locally, giving farmers a say in how the Federal programs are applied in their county. This grassroots method of administration continues today.
Hawai'i Farmers Union United (HFUU) represents and advocates for family farmers and ranchers on all of the Hawaiian Islands. Its members represent: Farm Owners/Operators, Foodies, Ranchers, Gardeners, Perma-culturalists, Cultural practitioners, Landscapers, and Suppliers & Businesses that are part of the local food chain. FUU and NFU (National Farmers Union) membership offers educational opportunities for youth and adults at local, state and national levels; an On-Farm Mentoring (FAM) Program in Hawaii, Internship Program in Washington, D.C., and many others. The HFUU Legislative Committee participates collaboratively with the Policy Committee, coalitions, organizations, and agencies to articulate, promote and work to establish legislation and policies that align with the mission and vision of HFUU.